Equestrian
| Equestrian |
|---|
|
| Equestrian Marshal badge |
| Also known as |
| Atlantia Cavalry |
| Focus |
| Weaponry |
| Hardness |
| Varies |
| Related arts |
| Archery, |
| Associated awards |
| The Order of the Quintain |
| Website |
| [1] |
Equestrian Activities
Equestrians practice and research all activities involving the partnership of a rider and equine in the period. Equestrian activities include both martial activities and Arts & Science activities.
All are welcome to participate, even if you don’t have a horse/equid.
The administrative website for Atlantian Equestrian can be found at Atlantian Cavalry - Kingdom of Atlantia, SCA Inc
The website for SCA equestrian can be found at Society for Creative Anachronism - Equestrian Activities (sca.org)
What do equestrians do?
At some SCA events you will see colorfully-attired riders and horses charging at one another with lances, and taking part in games of skill which squires and other mounted warriors practiced in the medieval period. SCA equestrian activities include mounted combat, jousting with opponents using foam or wooden lances, and games such as jousting at rings, hitting the quintain, obstacle courses, and archery from horseback. Equestrian activities enhance the medieval pageantry at our events!
While most activities are practiced mounted, we have a small but enthusiastic community of drivers.
Equestrians practice martial arts including the following:
Rider authorization required
These are not martial activities, but historically may have been used to prepare for martial activity. Only a rider authorization is required.
- Pas de Deux - While technically a martial activity since a riding authorization is required, but anyone viewing or participating would readily acknowledge that this is an artistic activity. Two riders work to create a pattern in symmetry. Requires very strong control of the horse and awareness of/ability to mirror the other rider.
- Ride before the Prince - a form of historical dressage intended to demonstrate equestrian skill. More information at ridebeforeaprince or Degruyter. There is an active group on facebook where we share videos of ourselves riding selected historical patterns, and look for opportunities to improve. Given the format, this is a great opportunity to get involved with the Atlantian Cavalry
- Trail rides/mock hunts/pilgrimages
Non-Contact Martial activities
The following activities require one or more martial authorizations and are therefore included as non-contact martial activities.
- Mounted archery (mounted archery - Book of the Horse [3.7.6.3.7])
Equestrian games - While commonly used to train the skills required for martial combat, they also serve as a training ground for both horse and rider. Equestrian games include a wide variety of exercises that improve the balance, coordination and cooperation of both partners. (mounted and driving). Brief descriptions below, more information can be found at
- Quintain - strike a shield with a lance. The shield spins about a pivot. In some versions, the quintain will strike back at the rider if the rider doesn't follow through.
- Heads - Ride a weaving course through a row of heads, striking with a sword to knock each head off its stand. Sword strikes are delivered on alternate sides, so the rider must alternate strikes, plus strike hard enough to dislodge the head, without compromising the balance of the horse or rider (horses are quite sensitive to changes in balance). The rider must also not strike the horse with the sword.
- Reeds ride along a row of reeds or candles that diminish in size. Rider must strike to dislodge the reed/extinguish the candle. As the candles grow smaller, the requirement for precision rises. As with heads, the strike must be calibrated to avoid striking the horse. (This is why you'll see many equestrians striking with a reverse/backhanded blow. Striking your horse with your sword is a very bad thing)
- Rings/ring tilting - rings of varying dimensions (Wrist sized down to finger sized) are hung from stands; rider uses a lance to collect the ring from the stand. The lance is deceptively heavy, and must be carefully controlled to pierce the ring. Smaller rings get higher scores.
- Pig sticking - Rider uses a lance to pierce a target on the ground and raise it into the air.
- Javelin - throwing javelins at ground targets.
- Birja - throw a stick/javelin through a ring and then catch it.
- Garrocha
- More information at
- * Atlantia Cavalry
- * SCA Equestrian Games covers equestrian games in some detail. Recommended
- * Weiner Gozen
Contact martial activities
These activities are performed more rarely in Atlantia, but there is keen interest in expanding the community further to include:
- Jousting
- Mounted Combat
- Crest combat
- Rossfechten
- Ground to Mounted combat
Arts & Sciences
Ride before the prince An exploration into historical riding patterns. Every other month we post an example of a historical riding exercise, film ourselves attempting it, and then work together to analyze.
• The Elegant Equine / Garbing Your Horse with Style - Taught at Holiday Faire (11/18/23)
• Equestrians in the SCA -- Participating and Planning - Taught at University of Atlantia (2/5/22) • Making a Caparison for your Horse (Mule, Pony, etc.) – Taught at University of Atlantia (6/12/21)
• The Magnificent Mule - Taught at University of Atlantia (6/13/20)
• Silk banner painting - Taught at Barony of Highland Foorde (5/21/23)
- Class: Psycho Horses! A case study of the British Library’s Psychomachia Epy Pengully
- Class: The Medieval Horse THL Epy Pengully
- Class: Equestrians in the SCA-- Participating and Planning Epy Pengully
- Class: Path to Pas de Deux Success: Tips and Tricks for Pattern and Partner Planning Epy Pengully
- Newcomers and Novices: What are they doing with those horses? Epy Pengully
Equipment
The primary equipment used in SCA equestrian include:
- Lances
- Swords
- Spears
- Bows/arrows/targets
- Garrocha poles
- Ground equipment for equestrian games
There are almost always loaner gear available at practices. Please come participate even if you don’t have the equipment.
Field
The actual range for Equestrian will usually be a rectangular area off to the side of an event. The safety zone needs to have a fence or other physical boundary present.
For safety reasons, please do not enter the Equestrian field unless you are warranted as ground crew. Ground crew authorization is quite simple, and will help us to ensure that equestrian activities are safe for both horses and riders.
Warrants
There are a variety of individual Equestrian warrants:
- Ground crew - required to enter the equestrian field and to help with ground activities. At most equestrian events, a Ground Crew 101 course will be taught first thing in the morning, and participants can become authorized at the conclusion of the course.
- Rider - required to ride an equine in processions, Pas de Deux, Trail rides, or other activities that do not involve weapons handling. is it possible to pas de deux with a rider warrant?
- Lancer - required for games activities that require weapons use.
- Driver: Required for driving an equine connected to a wheeled vehicle.
- Mounted Archery: Required for participating in mounted archery.
- Special Authorizations: Required for Jousting, Crest Combat, and Mounted Combat.
Mounted archery is in a grey area; please consult with both equestrian and archery marshalls. The rules are less than completely clear. discuss offline
Tourneys
Equestrian Royal Champion
External Links
Equestrian Martial’s handbook Atlantia Book of the Horse
Marshals Equestrian Marshals